Fair Trade Judaica (FTJ)

Fair Trade Judaica promotes fair trade as a Jewish value through educating the Jewish community, and expanding the production, distribution, and sale of fair trade Judaica products. We envision a world in which Jewish consumers recognize fair trade as an expression of core Jewish values, seek out fair trade Judaica products, and use their purchasing power to support thriving communities of artisans around the world.

David Manando (South Africa)

Born in Zimbabwe in 1972, David attended primary school until he completed his 8th grade level. Unfortunately his parents did not have the means to allow him to complete his final two years, so David left school to find work in motor car maintenance. Motor car wires were not his medium, but David had always ‘played around with wires’ (and beads) as a child and so he decided to leave Zimbabwe and try his luck in this craft in Johannesburg South Africa in 1994.

Completely self-taught, David started to master the skill of wire and bead work and found that he could soon make almost anything once shown a picture. He then spent 5 months training rural children in schools, as well as adults in the craft of wire and bead work and found that he learned as much from his pupils as they from him.

David then made his way back to Cape Town where he worked for Child Welfare, training others and producing chandeliers out of recycled materials. A great opportunity presented itself when he was asked to make up a Chandelier for a ball at the exclusive hotel, Fancourt, in the scenic Garden Route; he was then asked to stay and do all the electrical fittings for all the chandeliers for the ball. David was then invited to work for a company called Source in Knysna and from 2009 -2011 he produced chandeliers out of beads and whatever he could find.

When work started drying out in Knysna, David came back to Cape Town and found his way to African Home. His first product was a chandelier made out of the tops of soda cans. Then came an order to make up chandeliers in the shape of kitchen whisks and colanders and these hang in a beautiful wine estate called Leopards Leap. Since then David has been called to make up large beaded vases based on antique Chinese ceramics and most recently a range of Judaica products including beaded matza holders, beaded Kiddush cups, beaded Shabbat candlesticks, and beaded Tzedakkah boxes.

David’s family, two daughters, his mother, ex-wife and brother, all live in Zimbabwe; he sends money home to them regularly. His motto in life is that he loves new challenges and the chance to learn new things. His versatility shows that he is indeed up to the challenges that beadwork sends his way.

Fair Trade Judaica's website would never have happened without three extraordinary people:Lisa K. Chanoff, whose generous donation made the project possible,Dean MacDonald who captured our essence with his brilliant logo and artistic influence, andAaron Hodge Silver who took our ideas and built a website we can grow into for a long time to come.